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If you’re an employer facing workforce challenges, Iowa Workforce Development wants to hear about it. That's why we’re hitting the road to speak with as many of you as possible.
Earlier this week, IWD officially launched its new Business Engagement Division, reorganizing employees around the state to create a more efficient team for assessing and resolving the workforce challenges of Iowa employers.
The first to-do item for members of the new division is an employer outreach blitz. Over the next 100 days, IWD leadership and members of the Business Engagement team will deploy across Iowa to share information about available resources and provide specific points of contact for assisting employers with workforce needs.
“We’re going to be asking Iowa employers about the challenges they’re facing in terms of workforce issues, then we’ll work to connect them with the solution,” said Tim Goodwin, Division Administrator for the new division. “This is the first step in building a one-stop shop for employers at Iowa Workforce Development.”
Click here to continue reading and learn how to request a visit.
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 September is Workforce Development Month, a time when professionals at IWD and sister agencies around the nation will be opening up their doors to remind the people we serve of all the possible ways you can get assistance in finding a new career.
To celebrate, Iowa Workforce Development and its partners have put together a collection of open houses, roundtables, and hiring events to help Iowans learn more about the types of services we provide. Visit this page for more information about the events that are taking place near you.
“We’re here to serve any Iowan, whether you’re freshly unemployed or simply exploring the possibility of changing careers,” said Linda Rouse, Division Administrator of the IWD unit that oversees 15 IowaWORKS job centers and three satellite offices. “We hope people will come out to learn more about what we do and about all the services that we can provide – both in person and online.”
Click here to read more.
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 IowaWORKS job centers offer one-on-one assistance for any Iowan in search of a new career. Visit a local center or make a virtual appointment to receive help with resumes, searches, interviews and more. Click the video above to see firsthand how IowaWORKS makes it happen every day.
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A new IWD employee is being honored by the Iowa World Language Association for her work helping students obtain the Iowa Seal of Biliteracy, a formal recognition of their mastery of a second language.
Linda Fandel, who left the Iowa Department of Education this month to join IWD’s Business Engagement Division as the governor’s liaison for work-based learning, is scheduled to receive the “Friend of the IWLA” award at an October 1 luncheon. The IWLA website says the award is intended to “recognize an individual who has provided special and exceptional service or aid to the Iowa World Language Association.” The IWLA represents more than 1,200 language instructors in Iowa across all educational levels.
“Students knowing more than one language is a huge asset in the workforce,” Fandel said. “I’m looking forward to expanding that opportunity.”
You can reach her at linda.fandel@iwd.iowa.gov.
 Linda Fandel
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Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds this week announced $26.6 million in grants to fund 23 projects intended to jumpstart new child care opportunities and make it easier for Iowans to find child care options through their employer.
These new Child Care Business Incentive Grants include $25.9 million to assist 19 infrastructure projects – employers who are building their own child care center for employees. Another $603,433 will go to four projects as support for agreements between businesses and local centers to create new child care slots. Combined, the grants involve 67 employers and are expected to create nearly 1,800 child care slots.
“Iowa businesses know that access to quality child care is a major factor in employees’ ability to work,” Gov. Reynolds said. “These awards will support and incentivize employer investment in child care resources on site or through community partnerships and strengthen our efforts to provide high quality child care throughout the state of Iowa.”
Click here for a full list of awardees or here for a map.
To build on these successes, IWD and the Iowa Department of Human and Health Services are announcing a second round of funding for the Child Care Business Incentive slots grant. This new opportunity seeks to provide additional flexibility in the ways employers can partner with local child care providers to meet the needs of their employees. Grants will support projects that increase licensed or operational child care slots, add slots to meet new time/day requirements of employees, or fill currently licensed (but unfilled) slots for the benefit of employees.
Applications are now being accepted on IowaGrants.gov and are due by 11:59 a.m. on October 17. Click here for Notice of Funding and Application information.
You can learn more about applying for the new grant by attending an upcoming Child Care Business Incentive Grant webinar on Sept. 23 at 9:00 a.m. Click this link to register.
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 More than 25,000 downloads so far by listeners around the world. Ryan West is your guide to a host of workforce programs and people making a difference.
Click to download.
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 IWD career planners have had more than 19,000 meetings with clients since the Reemployment Case Management program started earlier this year, while nearly 3,800 claimants have left unemployment for new careers. Click here for more information about RCM.
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 Iowa Workforce Development is receiving $2.9 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to make targeted improvements in several high-use services tied to unemployment insurance.
The money will fund enhancements intended ultimately to eliminate additional barriers, reduce backlogs, and improve the overall timeliness of unemployment payments.
“Iowa Workforce Development is grateful to receive this award, which will help our agency make targeted improvements in multiple areas,” said Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “We are continually looking for ways we can provide better service to Iowans.”
Click here to read the news release detailing how money will be spent.
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